Salisbury News Keeps Delivering

Don't miss Delegate Mike McDermott's weekly report exclusively right here on Salisbury News tomorrow.

On Saturday's Salisbury News presents another exclusive weekly report, HISTORICAL COMMENTS BY GEORGE CHEVALLIER delivering local historical information you can't get anywhere else.

Its no wonder Salisbury News has the largest local audience over any form of MSM or Blogs anywhere on the Eastern Shore.

I can tell you that The Daily Times rejected publishing such information as they were included in the beginning but they responded, we don't have the room. They charge YOU to purchase their paper, yet they don't have the space for such important information. Oh well, you snooze, you lose.

Delegate McDermott's Post will be up at 9:00 AM Sunday morning.

MD Lawmakers Pushing 'Transvestite Protection Act' Again

A citizens group that unsuccessfully fought a Montgomery County, Md., plan to create "coed showers" by protecting cross-dressing possible sex offenders who gain access to women's locker rooms by alleging they are "transgendered" has issued an alert that Maryland residents need to contact their state lawmakers now or the plan could be imposed statewide.

The state's HB 235 would prohibit discrimination based on "sexual orientation" or "gender identity" with regard to housing, leasing property and "in the provision of certain services or facilities."

Officials with the NotMyShower.com website, who organized when Montgomery County was considering its own plan in 2007 and 2008, said there are a number of problems with the idea.

First, it would force "individuals, employers, religious institutions, roommates, schools and public accommodation facilities to ignore reality and disregard a person's legitimate 'assigned sex at birth.'"

That would include alarming circumstances that could develop because of the ready access it could be interpreted to provide to males who want to invade the privacy of women's locker rooms and restrooms, they said.

"In Montgomery County, women were afraid and outraged when a man in a blue dress went into female locker areas in a health club," the organization explained. "He would have been protected under this proposed law."

The alarm is being issued now by the organization Parents and Friends of ExGays and Gays because the state legislative proposal, thought to have been abandoned, suddenly is surging forward in the law-making process. A hearing is scheduled tomorrow.

"The Maryland legislative session ends on Monday at midnight. Despite promises by Senate President Mike V. Miller that HB 235 would stay in rules committee, it passed to the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee.

We are told that they plan to pass this radical bill despite public outcry in the last few days of the session," the organization warned.

Read more

House OK's Immigrant Tuition Bill On 74-66 Vote

Students must meet a series of requirements to qualify for in-state rates

After two-and-a-half more hours of intense debate yesterday, state delegates approved a measure allowing some illegal immigrant students to pay in-state college tuition rates.

The tuition bill dominated the House of Delegates the past two days, with hours of passionate debate from supporters and opponents.
The final vote was close - 74-66. Seventy-one votes are needed to pass a bill in the 141-member House.

Most of Anne Arundel's delegates voted against the measure. The only votes in favor were from House Speaker Michael E. Busch, D-Annapolis; Del. Mary Ann Love, D-Glen Burnie; and three delegates who represent a district that straddles Prince George's County and part of west county: Del. Ben Barnes, D-College Park; Del. Barbara Frush, D-Beltsville; and Del. Joseline Pena-Melnyk, D-College Park.

"I don't think we should be offering an enticement to come here illegally," said Del. Herb McMillan, R-Annapolis, who voted against the bill.

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VERNUCCIO: Obama Administration Covers Up Union Welfare Program

The Obama administration is more than a year late in releasing an important report on federal government union costs. Clauses within collective bargaining agreements require that the government pay some federal workers for union activities - using tax dollars. This practice, known as “official time,” is documented annually in the Office of Personnel Management’s (OPM)Official Time Usage in the Federal Government Report. Unfortunately, the Obama administration has not released any official time statistics since taking office; 2008 is the latest information available.

According to OPM, “Official time, broadly defined, is paid time off from assigned Government duties to represent a union or its bargaining unit employees.” In other words, government agencies allow some federal employees to do union work while still being paid. This is a boon for government employee unions because they do not need to pay these workers to represent their members and can still collect dues.

In 2008, federal employees logged 2,893,922 hours for union work while still receiving a paycheck from Uncle Sam. This cost taxpayers nearly $121 million for work only benefiting government unions.

Title 5 of the U.S. Code authorizes official time, but that may soon change. In January, Rep. Phil Gingrey, Georgia Republican, introduced the Federal Employee Accountability Act of 2011(H.R. 122). Mr. Gingrey calls official time “an abuse of taxpayer dollars.” He notes that past reporting was voluntary and the number of hours spent on paid union activity could be much higher. The congressman says that doing away with official time could save taxpayers as much as $600 million over five years and $1.2 billion over 10.

In 2002, then-OPM Director Kay Coles James issued a memorandum requiring federal departments and agencies to report the number of hours used for official time at the end of each fiscal year, September 30. For the last several years, OPM published the report in March - until 2009, when it suddenly stopped.

The 2010 report would have covered the 2009 fiscal year, the period from October 2008 through September 2009. The Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) has repeatedly requested the report since December 2010 - nine months after OPM customarily released it and 14 months after the close of the fiscal year.

OPM either did not respond to requests or gave ever-changing deadlines. Each month, OPM assured CEI that the report would be finished the next month. When the deadlines passed, OPM then said the report would be finished another month in the future. At no time did the agency say it was not working on the report, but did maintain the report was not completed and therefore not subject to a Freedom of Information Act request. The fact that the report is now more than a year late shows either willful nonperformance on the part of OPM or simple incompetence.

OPM is not just ducking public inquiries, it is also not responding to request from Congress. Mr. Gingery’s office could not even obtain an updated report. Mr. Gingrey said of OPM’s noncompliance, “by continuously delaying the publication of information regarding union activity on official time, OPM is exhibiting a lack of transparency that will only fuel the uncertainty and distrust of Americans who demand to know where their tax dollars are being spent.”

This lack of transparency highlights a larger issue affecting the Obama administration. President Obama pledged to make his administration the most open and transparent in history.”

More here

Wisconsin High Court Race Yields Mixed Results

When a little-known liberal challenged a conservative Wisconsin Supreme Court justice, the once-sleepy race suddenly looked like a backdoor way for Gov. Scott Walker's opponents to sink his agenda.

Then a clerk discovered 14,000 unrecorded votes that vaulted the incumbent into the lead. Experts said the results represented a draw for the governor: He didn't lose, but the slim margin means he didn't win big, either. And the close contest could help ensure Walker's opponents stay energized for the next round.

The outcome also improves the odds that Walker's collective bargaining law would survive a legal challenge before the high court. However, the narrow victory denied the governor a clear public endorsement of his policy.

The conservative "didn't win by the margin everyone expected him to win by," said University of Wisconsin-Green Bay political science professor Michael Kraft. "If I were Walker, I wouldn't be saying everything is just dandy and people love me."

Only a short time ago, Justice David Prosser had been expected to coast to another term after 12 years on the bench.

In February, he emerged from a four-way primary with 55 percent of the vote, far ahead of JoAnne Kloppenburg, an assistant state attorney virtually no one had ever heard of. She came in a distant second with 28 percent, setting up an uphill run against Prosser in the general election.

Then outrage over Walker's plan to strip public workers of nearly all their union rights reached a crescendo. Tens of thousands of people converged on the state Capitol for three weeks of nonstop protests, and minority Democrats in the state Senate fled to Illinois to block a vote.

Republicans in the Legislature eventually passed the plan without Senate Democrats, and Walker signed it into law last month. The law is bogged down in multiple legal challenges, though, and has not taken effect.

Democrats and Kloppenburg supporters worked to tap into the anger surrounding the measure. They hoped electing Kloppenburg would tilt the state Supreme Court to the left, increasing the chances that the justices might eventually strike down the law.

They attacked Prosser as a Walker clone and sought to tie him to the governor's aggressive budget-cutting agenda.

Read more here

Teen Critically Wounded In Gaza Missile Attack, IDF Retaliates

A 16-year-old boy was critically injured Thursday afternoon when Arab terrorists opened fire at a school bus traveling in southern Israel near the Nahal Oz crossing.

A second person -- the driver of the bus and the only other person in the vehicle at the time -- sustained shrapnel wounds in the leg. Others in the area suffered shock and severe anxiety. The bus, which was struck from behind, was hit at the Sa'ad junction, just outside Kibbutz Sa'ad in the Sha'ar HaNegev Regional Council district. The front windows of the bus were shattered as well.

Magen Dovid Adom medics raced to the scene and stabilized the boy's condition while receiving mortar fire before he was airlifted to Soroka Medical Center in Be'er Sheva. The boy has been admitted to the Trauma Unit. with head injuries, according to hospital officials. The wounded driver was also rushed to the hospital.

Although police initially identified the weapon as a medium anti-tank missile, other reports indicated that it may have been a mortar attack. A barrage of mortar shells and rockets continued to be fired at the area following the attack. One exploded next to a house in the Eshkol region. Miraculously, no one was physically injured although the house was badly damaged. At least 16 projectiles had been fired at Israel's southern region by 5:00 p.m. local time.

INN

Governor Given Deadline On A Parole Recommendations For Lifers; O’Malley Will Sign Bill

A bill that would give the governor six months to reject a recommendation for parole for someone who is serving a life sentence in prison is heading to the governor's desk, and a spokesman said he will sign the bill.

Continue Reading...

White Powder Found At Rep. West's Office

Authorities in Boca Raton, Fla., responded to Rep. Allen West's office on Friday after a letter containing white powder was discovered, the Palm Beach Post reports.

A hazardous materials team tested the powder and determined it was not anthrax or any other biohazardous material, although an accompanying letter mentioned anthrax. By 4:30 p.m. emergency officials declared the threat over.

FBI officials also responded to the suspicious letter, which included derogatory references to West, an African-American.

More here

[No response so far from the NAACP.  --Editor]

Chuckie Pulls Harry's Strings In Shutdown Press Conference

Sen. Chuck Schumer, New York Democrat, already embarrassed himself once recently by barking out talking points to his fellow lawmakers on a conference call while reporters listened in by accident.

Now the famous publicity hound is whispering talking points to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid mid-press conference!

At an event where Democrats again slammed Republicans with the ruthless messaging discipline that has marked the government shutdown debate, Schumer didn’t quite like what Reid was saying, so he suggested improvements.

“Harry, Harry, you should explain the context of the $78 billion,” Schumer told Reid, in reference to an amount of spending cuts Democrats claimed Republican House Speaker John Boehner agreed to.

“Ok, my crew back here said I should give you a little more information on the $78 [billion],” Reid quickly began.

Schumer wasn’t through yet. He looked annoyed when he tried to get Reid to tell the crowd of reporters that “it was Boehner’s suggestion.”

More details and video

Planned Parenthood Spent More Than $1 Million Electing Democrats Last Cycle

Here's something to keep in mind as Democrats risk a government shutdown in order to preserve federal subsidies of Planned Parenthood. From the Center for Responsive Politics:

In 2010, Planned Parenthood and a California affiliate together spent more than $700,000 on federal lobbying efforts, a Center for Responsive Politics analysis of federal lobbying records finds. By comparison, all other organizations that primarily advocate for abortion rights collectively spent $247,280 on federal lobbying efforts during the same period, according to the Center's research.

Planned Parenthood also recorded $905,796 in independent expenditures during the 2010 cycle -- money spent in support of, or in opposition to, federal political candidates, largely through advertisements. The top beneficiaries of this money were Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.).

Read more at the Washington Examiner

Obama's Simply Not Telling The Truth About Domestic Oil Drilling

Now Obama is posing as the driller-in-chief.

Stung by the savvy American consumer connecting the dots between gas price pain at the pump and Obama's repeated moratoria on oil drilling, the President did what he's done so many times.  He told us his words speak louder than his actions.

In his March 30 energy speech, Obama said he supports more domestic oil drilling, and, under his leadership, domestic oil drilling is at an all-time high, but the U.S. only has 2% of the world's oil, and anyway it's the oil companies' fault because they are sitting on a zillion offshore leases that they refuse to drill.

Nonsense.  All of it—a pure head fake.

Obama has shut down, shut off, and canceled more oil drilling than any President since Carter.

After the BP oil spill last year, Obama shut down all offshore oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, idling 78,000 jobs and cutting off billions of dollars of tax revenue to state and local governments in the Gulf Coast region.

After U.S. District Judge Martin Feldman found the Gulf moratorium without factual basis, Obama lifted it, granted no permits, then reinstated the same moratorium.  The same judge then found the second moratorium illegal and held the administration in contempt of court for ignoring the first order.

Seven drilling rigs have left the Gulf for friendlier waters.

Obama also reversed the Bush plan to sell leases off the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and around Alaska, even rescinding leases already granted and paid for in Alaskan waters.

It's not just oil drilling that Obama opposes.  His actions say he opposes all energy development.

A recent study by the American Consumer Institute concludes that coal, natural gas, nuclear, transmission infrastructure, and even renewables were among 351 energy projects delayed or canceled by Obama.  These projects represented 1.9 million jobs and an investment of $1.1 trillion.

More here

Congressman Harris To Donate Salary To Charity

WASHINGTON, D.C. – After the United States Senate rejected H.R. 1255, a bill that would delay legislators’ salary in the case of a government shutdown, Rep. Andy Harris has decided to donate his earnings to charity during a possible closing. 

“Because federal employees and our service men and women don’t get paid during a possible government shutdown, neither should I,” stated Rep. Andy Harris.  “I plan to donate to my earnings during the potential shutdown to a worthy charity.”

Due to the 27^th Amendment, Congress cannot change their salary before an election has occurred.  H.R. 1255 would have prohibited the Secretary of the Senate and the Chief Administrative Officer of the House, respectively, from disbursing to each Member or Delegate the amount of his or her salary for each day that: (1) there is more than a 24-hour lapse in appropriations for any federal agency or department for failure to enact a regular appropriations bill or continuing resolution, or (2) the federal government is unable to make payments or meet obligations because the public debt limit has been reached.

Lighthouse Wesleyan Church

Annual Fruitland Chamber of Commerce Easter Parade and Fruitland Recreation Easter Egg Hunt

Come out to St. Johns United Methodist Church to eat breakfast.  It runs from 7:00 -10:00.  The menu is eggs, biscuits, scrapple, bacon, sausage, apples, coffee, juice, and milk all for a Freewill offering

This years parade will begin at 10:00 am at the Fruitland Primary School, run down to City Hall where it will run up Main St, turn right onto Brown St. ending at the Fruitland Recreation Complex.  This is the largest parade one yet!  This year PAC14 will be airing the parade.

The parade will feature old and new automobiles, trucks from several fire departments, the UMES marching band, horses, etc.  Come out to meet Wicomico's Hero's Fernando and Alexis Guerrero!  Follow the Easter Bunny at the end of the parade to the Little League Fields to take part in the Easter Egg Hunt.

The Easter Egg Hunt, will start approximately ten minutes after the parade ends.  With 4,000 eggs to find there will be enough for everyone.

Park once to welcome spring in and enjoy the festivities!Pollen is in the air again, and the baby bunnies are starting to venture forth into the yards.  Birds are singing in the trees and starting to gather bits of stick and string and whatever else they think might make a good nest for their eggs.  Spring is here, and with it the annual Easter Parade in Fruitland!

KAREN WAGGONER RECOGNIZED AS 2011 OUTSTANDING PUBLIC HEALTH LEADER

(Salisbury, MD.) Mrs. Karen Waggoner, Community Traffic Safety Program Coordinator (C.T.S.P.C.) was recognized as the 2011 Outstanding Public Health Leader for Wicomico County at a ceremony held April 7, 2011 at Salisbury University. The award ceremony was held in recognition of National Public Health Week, April 4-10, 2011.

As a C.T.S.P.C Mrs. Waggoner has arranged a Wicomico County State Highway Safety Task Force and continues to implement new health and safety programs for the citizens of Wicomico County. In 2005, Mrs. Waggoner earned the Maryland Highway Safety Office Leadership Award in recognition of her public safety campaigns.

Mrs. Waggoner is described as exhibiting leadership and dedication. She raises the bar for work ethic and commitment to high professional standards. Her sense of humor, warmth and honesty touch all those who know and work with her. She creates an environment where all agencies work together harmoniously.

Mrs. Waggoner is to be commended for her tireless efforts to improve the health of Wicomico County residents and for her accomplishment on being recognized as Wicomico County's 2011 Outstanding Public Health Leader.

Lori Brewster, M.S., APRN/BC, LCADC
Health Officer
April 8, 2011

Yard Sale

Good Morning,

I forgot to email you earlier in the week, but if you have time this morning, would you post that my neighbor and I are having a yard sale in the Barrington Ridge development (off of Rockawalkin and Nanticoke Rds). My address is 26875 Hamden Dr. Salisbury.

MARYLAND STATE POLICE 2010 TROOPER AND NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICER OF THE YEAR ANNOUNCED

(PIKESVILLE, MD) -- Maryland State Police Superintendent Colonel Terrence B. Sheridan today announced the statewide 2010 Trooper of the Year and Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year for the Department.

In a ceremony that recognized the local winners from each barrack and division, Colonel Sheridan congratulated Trooper First Class Robert G. Iman, who won Trooper of the Year and Sergeant John D. Vanhoy, who won Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year. TFC Iman is assigned to the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division and Sgt. Vanhoy supervises the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force, comprised of troopers and officers from the Metropolitan Police Department.

“Both troopers exemplify the highest standards of integrity, dedication to duty, and public service to the people of Maryland,” Colonel Sheridan said. “Sgt. Vanhoy’s supervision and leadership resulted in hundreds of dangerous felons, many of them fugitives, being located and arrested. TFC Iman personally identified hundreds of unsafe commercial vehicles on our roads last year and, while doing so, made more than 30 criminal arrests that included fugitives and felons. They both have helped to perpetuate the outstanding reputation and tradition built by the state troopers who have come before them during the past 90 year history of the Maryland State Police.”

The following narratives describe some of the work of TFC Iman and Sgt. Vanhoy during 2010 which led to their awards today:

TROOPER FIRST CLASS ROBERT G. “BOB” IMAN
COMMERCIAL VEHICLE ENFORCEMENT DIVISION

Trooper First Class Iman has been nominated by his peers, coworkers and supervisors in recognition of his effective investigative and communication skills, sustained superior performance and selfless dedication to duty.

In 2010, Trooper First Class Iman issued 804 citations and $253,980 in enforcement related fines, including 20 alcohol violations and drunk driving arrests and 15 suspended or revoked drivers. He conducted more than 400 commercial vehicle inspections and placed 331 of those vehicles and drivers, or 81 percent of the vehicles he inspected, out of service. He also made 32 criminal arrests that included a wide variety of fugitives and felons.

One investigation was the result of his curiosity and systematic follow up of what started as a routine traffic stop and safety inspection. His investigation uncovered stolen items being sold as scrap for cash. He organized a covert surveillance, studied jailhouse interviews, reviewed video surveillance tape, used GPS tracking and authored and served search warrants. TFC Iman’s work resulted in the arrests and convictions of several members of the same family who were involved in a long-running theft ring that operated in three counties and Baltimore City.

In another investigation, TFC Iman found four stolen motorcycles in an unoccupied RV. He worked diligently to identify the RV driver and ultimately developed an informant who helped him uncover the identity of a number of suspects involved in an organized sport bike theft ring.

TFC Iman accepted the challenge of competing as the CVED representative in the 2010 Maryland Commercial Vehicle Inspector’s Competition, in which inspectors from all law enforcement agencies compete.

He won that competition easily and then placed in the top ten in the North American Inspectors Competition competing against the best inspectors from the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. He was also named the Maryland Motor Truck Association Inspector of the Year for 2010.

According to Sergeant Duane Pearce, “the value of TFC Iman as a state trooper when considering reliability, competence, thoroughness, dependability, leadership, unwavering motivation, and his continued practice of placing the needs of the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division and the State Police ahead of his own can only be described as immeasurable.”

SERGEANT JOHN D. VANHOY
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DIVISION
CAPITAL AREA REGIONAL FUGITIVE TASK FORCE

Sgt. John Vanhoy is the group supervisor of a team of troopers and Metropolitan Police Department officers assigned to a warrant fugitive unit working the Prince George’s County area. Sgt. Vanhoy and his team continue to exceed goals and expectations.

In 2010, the team closed almost 800 warrants and arrested nearly 500 felony fugitives, who were wanted for all times of major crimes, including murder, armed robbery, rape, and child abuse. A majority of those arrested had extensive criminal histories, including violent crimes.

In 2010, Sgt. Vanhoy was personally responsible for closing nearly one hundred cases and making 54 arrests. He takes on the more complicated cases so his team can serve more warrants.
He assisted the entire task force with 241 cases that resulted in 137 fugitive arrests. He also provided manpower support to the US Marshal’s Service task force.

One of several ‘high priority’ cases he was assigned last year was a cold case homicide from Wicomico County. All he had was a suspect name. He tracked the person to Texas, located addresses for family members, and, with the help of the US Marshal’s service, the accused murderer was arrested within two days.

Two other cases involved murders in St. Mary’s County. Sgt. Vanhoy had both suspects tracked down and arrested outside of St. Mary’s County within 48 hours of the murders.

He does all of this while still completing the administrative requirements of supervising the task force and daily providing statistical information about task force activities. Sgt. Vanhoy also assisted the State Police Academy firearms training unit as an instructor. He was the officer in charge of the southern region and was responsible for training about 200 troopers.

In his nomination, Sgt. Thomas Quade said this: “During 2010, Sgt. Vanhoy continued to maintain the highest level of professionalism and dedication to the Department. His willingness to assist any member or division and to also complete any task has not gone unnoticed. In addition to the extra responsibilities, he successfully led and maintained the appropriate paperwork for the task force. He meets all deadlines before the required date…Sgt. Vanhoy completes a large amounts of these tasks on his own time, in order to meet deadlines and not disrupt daily operations. He consistently displays pride in his work while representing the Maryland State Police.”

Federal Employees Will Receive Backpay for Not Working

The last time the Federal Government shutdown was during the Clinton Administration - 1995.

Back then I was working at the Wallops Island NASA base for a private contractor. In 1995 while the federal budget was being negotiated - just like the action going on today - I was advised by my Supervisor to assume the responsibilities of the federal staff as they were being furloughed because of the budget impasse. Well folks - I am here to inform you that while I was out there 'mashing the potatoes' all of the federal workers were 'lapping-up the gravy.' You see what happened was that when the budget crisis was resolved - the federal workers - GOT PAID FOR NOT WORKING. That's right - when they returned to work they were paid for the days that were missed.

So when Obama said during last nights television interview - that there would be 800,000 non-essential federal workers to be without paychecks - I can assure you he WAS LYING. How do I know - because I was there the last time this event occurred.

This time I say 'shut her down' till the cows come home.

Check Out Car Show, Horizons Dance Showcase Saturday, April 9

Saturday, April 9
Wicomico High Band Boosters Host Car Show
Wicomico High School Auditorium parking lot

The Wicomico High School Band Boosters will present the 2011 Car Show Saturday, April 9, in the parking lot of the WiHi Auditorium. Registration is at 9 a.m. and the show will be open from noon-3 p.m. There will be dash plaques for the first 100 vehicles. The show will also feature band performances and concessions. Awards will be given out at 2:30 p.m. and will include Top 20 cars, Director’s Award and Band Choice Award. The funds from this event (formerly known as the Wicomico Middle School Car Show) will assist with the purchase of new band uniforms for WiHi. Registration fees for cars are $10 on the day of the show. For information call Buck Burton at 410-251-1121.

Saturday, April 9
Horizons Dance and Arts Showcase
Wicomico High School Auditorium

The Horizons Dance and Arts Showcase event at 7 p.m. Saturday, April 9 at Wicomico High School Auditorium will benefit Horizons, an organization that teaches students form low-income families to thrive in spite of challenging circumstances. The Horizons program promotes a holistic, hands-on approach to learning and equips students with a strong motivation to learn. Through this program students are taught skills necessary to realize their full potential. Horizons @ The Salisbury School is one of only 19 truly unique public/private partnerships that are part of a national program, which was founded 40 years ago in Connecticut. Dance companies, singing groups and theatrical companies are part of this one-of-a-kind event that promises to be the most exciting event of the year. This is a unique opportunity for all the creative arts to come together on one stage, show a united front and support a worthy cause. Each organization will come together on this day and perform one to two numbers from two age groups and then all work together on a show ending finale number. Tickets are $10 adults, $5 students. Performances this year will be by:

Feet of Fire
Salisbury Dance Academy
Eastern Shore Ballet Theatre
Prince Street Step team
Bennett Middle School Step team
Salisbury Middle School Chorus
Beach Bounders Gymnastics
D'Ann Danse Studio
Kaleidoscope Children & Youth Theatre- Munchkins from the Wizard of Oz
Kaleidoscope Performance Troupe
James M. Bennett High Rock N Roll Revival

Congress Strikes A Budget Deal To Avert Shutdown, Cutting $38.5B

Congressional leaders, with barely an hour to go before a federal government, announced late Friday night they had reached a deal to fund the government through the end of the fiscal year.

The deal includes $38.5 billion in spending cuts while leaving the more contention policy matters, such as blocking funding for Planned Parenthood, for a later debate.

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Obama: 'Americans Of Different Beliefs Came Together'

Carrie Dann writes:Moments after Congressional leaders announced a deal to prevent an government shutdown and to fund the government through the rest of the fiscal year, President Barack Obama praised negotiators for reaching consensus on a budget deal.

“Tomorrow, I am pleased to announce that the Washington monument, as well as the rest of the federal government, will be open for business,” Obama said in remarks from the White House.

“Today, Americans of different beliefs came together again,” Obama said.

The president said that negotiators have reached “a budget that invests in our future while making the largest annual spending cut in our history,” adding that he  compromised on cuts that he would “not have made in better circumstances."

On the Senate floor, Senate Majority Harry Reid praised fellow negotiator House Speaker John Boehner and called the spending cuts “historic.” 

“We must get our fiscal house in order,” the Senate leader said. “We've agreed to an historic level of cuts for this fiscal year.”

Reid noted that the eleventh-hour deal reflected the difficulty of the negotiations. 

“We didn’t do it at this late hour for the drama,” he said. “We did it because it’s been very hard.”  
                                    
Around 11:20 pm ET, the Senate approved by voice vote a six-day stopgap measure to fund the government, sending it to the House for approval. A long-term bill is expected to be approved in the middle of next week.

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